User:NinaFaget1/sandbox

Igbo Jews in Israel
Over the past decades, some of member of the Igbo have been migrated to Israel and especially to Tel Aviv, to fully connect themselves with their religion and ancestries. This wave of immigration can also be explained by the strong diaspora established in Israel since Nigeria was granted independence in 1960. This country has attracted migrants who desired to leave Nigeria. This situation is mostly due to the educational programs implemented after 1960 by Israel and the newly Nigerian state.

Nevertheless, the Igbo Jewish community is not recognized by the Israel's Supreme Court or by any other Jewish religious group. Indeed, while they identify themselves as part of the worldwide Jewish community, they are still struggling to be recognized by others jews. Indeed, Igbo Jews asserts that they are connected to Judaism via their jewish blood as they claim to be descendants of the ancient Israelites. In S. Afsai article, an affiliate of the Gihon Hebrews’ Synagogue declares : "We say we are Jews from blood. We are now excluded; we cannot go and participate as Jews in any place. I make an appeal that we be recognized, not excluded and isolated from other Jews." Furthermore, some genetic studies have been conducted to assert that Igbo Jews are genealogical bond to the Ancient Jews as they are sharing some DNA similarities.

In this recognition process, they met several obstacles. Firstly, the main issue they encounter is the almost absence of literacy documents and proofs that linked them to the Jewish History. In addition, another barrier that prevent them to be accepted in Israel is that many Igbo migrants were able to enter the country thanks to a tourist visa and then seize this occasion to settle themselves in this country. According to the official administration of Israel, a majority of these migrants do not come as Jews but as Christian Pilgrims. For this reasons, most of the Igbo might not come up as Jews seeking to connect with their sacred and historic land. In addition, as a result of this illegal migration, it is difficult to evaluate the number of Igbo in Israel and whether or not they are here to claim their Jewishness.

However, some Igbo Jews currently try to be less isolated by changing some of their religious customs to adapt themselves in Israel. For instance, Daniel Lis explained in his article that a Igbo Jewish Community is assimilating themselves to the Orthodox Judaism movement to be accepted in Israel.

To conclude, Israel is currently examining the Igbo Jewishness question by sending emissaries in Nigeria. Recognition by the state will change their way of living in their homeland as Igbo Jews will be granted citizenship thanks to the Law of Return. Indeed, a part of the recognization debate is linked to the citizenship question as some scholar and elite of the Israel argue that some Igbos pretend to assimilate themselves with the Judaic movement in order to be able to become legal inhabitants of the country.

However, the issue of either or not the Igbo Jews should be recognized as part of the Hebrew community does not seem to be seriously address by the Israeli state as no serious investigation had been launched.

To finish with, the question of the Igbo Jewishness appears to not only be bonded to the Jewry History but also to how the Israel State wants to deal with immigration.